A Bridesmaid's Guide to Slimming Down

One of my very best friends is finally getting married. Her wedding day is set for June next year and I'm beyond excited to be a part of her special day. She just shared with me some details she had in mind like the theme, colors and of course, her gown. Everything's so pretty and I can already imagine it as one of the most beautiful weddings I'll ever be a part of.

The problem now is this: I seriously wanna slim down in time for the gown fitting as I'll be one of her bridesmaids. I don't really consider myself a fatty but my bulging belly (which kinda hints "pregnant" for most people) has been giving me nightmares lately. People asking "are you pregnant?" (when you're actually not) kinda stings a little bit you know? And as much as I want to convince myself that they're only baby fats, they really are not. They've already taken permanent residency in the most unflattering part of my body. Eating too much of what I've been baking for the past year, drowning on soda, and my extremely sweet tooth are finally catching up with me. Sad to say, but I'm no longer that comfortable and confident wearing a dress. So now I'm on a mission. Yes I know that this is going to be really hard and would take a lot of effort on my part for sure, but I know this one is gonna be possible. I'M GONNA BURN, MELT AND KILL THESE FATS AWAY AND I'M GONNA LOOK FABULOUS IN THAT DRESS! Who's with me? :)

Here's my game plan so far:

Breaking up with Cola
I think I drink too much soda or carbonated drinks for my own good. I know this is not healthy, so I am finally stopping this bad habit and will go for healthier alternatives like "water", plain water that is. Lame choice I know, but replacing Coca-Cola and Pepsi with water will benefit me in the long run. Water is always good! Fruity shakes and juices make my stomach growl and hurt bigtime so I have no other choice really.

I also happen to be a huge coffee addict. I drink atleast three to four cups daily and I'm an even bigger fan of creamer like I'm summoning the goddess of Diabetes or something. This part would take a lot of will power for me because my brain really finds it hard to function without my caffeine fix, but I have to do my best with this one. Or just reduce my daily intake, maybe? We'll see...

Run baby, run (like the zombies are after you)
Our building apartment has a free gym and swimming pool for all tenants. Unfortunately, I haven't been giving these benefits much thought since I moved there. I also feel really bad that the pair of running shoes I bought almost a year ago is still left unused. I guess it's time to turn things around and get these baby fats to meet some really hot new friends like Mr. Stationary Bike and Ms. Threadmill. Will tag along with the boyfriend to make things more exciting. He knows his way around the gym.

Green, leafy and edible bestfriends
I've already told you about my brilliant plan to meet the mean machines of fitness above. Now, I'd like to talk about being BFF's with veggies. The greener and the leafier, the better! You all know how much I used to despise eating vegetables, but I'm now trying my best to change my ways and has been learning lots of healthy recipes too. This year, I've eaten broccoli for the first time and believe it or not, have finally learned how to eat carrots with a smile. Meats and other fatty foods taste superb and they also play a vital role in giving you your much-needed protein and energy but they should be eaten in moderation and be balanced with fruits and vegetables as well.

These three steps are not really revolutionary, but they're still practically new territory to me so I'm a bit scared to be honest. It's easy to get trapped in an unhealthy lifestyle, but getting out of it is hardwork for real. Holding the door knob to Healthville and taking the first step inside are the hardest part. It's best to have a string of great friends and family behind you for support while you muster enough courage to achieve the healthier (if not healthiest) version of yourself. Keep your eyes on the prize. Slipping perfectly inside my bridesmaid's dress is such a nice excuse to be more inspired to change my bad lifestyle. I CAN DO THIS! :)

Are you also trying to slim down and live a much healthier lifestyle? What works and what did not work for you? Call me desperate, but I'd love to hear about your journey too and I'm very open to great tips and advice. :)

Yes! I am trying to eat better. I was doing so good but this week was horrible. Pizza for lunch Monday, burgers for dinner, ice cream on Tuesday, and chips, queso and margaritas last night at dinner. UGH. I am getting back on the healthy train today. (I love cream in my coffee too. It is the one thing I can't give up!)

I have one of those tummies too. My advice, do the best you can (moderation is key) and get a good pair of spanx for the wedding when the time comes. :)I'm popping by to visit from Katherine's linky!Cheers,Charhttp://1epicmom.com

I worked out for two months every day for a hour or so. I noticed if I went two days without working out, it was if I had started all over. Lost 3 pounds then after that it was only a pound each week.

I had gained it all back (working out still) It just didn't work for me.

Maybe it'll stick with you if you decide to walk/jog? Everyone is different! Swimming is probably the best option and you burn off more calories that way.

Count calories, remember to go light on dressing/sauces/butter and have healthy snacks around. Eat what you want or go healthy but in SMALLER portions! By sticking to this, I managed to lose 10 pounds and keep it off. So it's quite possible to lose without having to work out but that's a plus and you'll feel more energy in the long run.

You should find out how many calories you should have for your gender/age/weight and then take away 400. That would be your limit for the day.

You can also buy one of those shapewears to help you look slim in a dress for the fitting/wedding.

Loving the new blog design! I did Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred DVD for 5 days a week (it's 20 minutes long and not too difficult) for about 3 months and lost 20 pounds. The last 2 weeks I didn't eat any carbs for the final "slim down". I pretty much love food so I have to think about how hard I'm going to have to work out to eat X amount of cupcakes. I usually think it's worth it.

Interesting...My best friend's wedding is next May!! On another note, I don't care so much for slimming down but I love being healthy. Now that summer has rolled around I am drinking my green smoothies religiously (spinach, fresh ginger, apple, lemon juice, water, celery, coriander).

wonderful post sweetie. Love the photos! Have you been to my wedding blog? http://YourWeddingKeepsakes.blogspot.com thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop Linky Party. I hope you have a wonderful weekend xo P.S. I'm having a party at Katherines Corner today and just a reminder that the giveaway is ending

I used to count calories, exercise, and stress myself out to lose weight (like many women do). I never lost the weight, and I was never happy with myself.A few months ago, I moved to Sweden and my whole mindset on dieting changed. Our bodies know what they want, but sometimes our emotions get in the way. Now, I listen to my body and read its signals. I started cooking good meals for myself and taking long walks in the forest. I have lost 5 lbs in less than a month and I am so at peace with myself.I don't know why I felt the need to write this, but I guess I'm just tired of women who see their bodies as the enemy, when in fact, our bodies are our friends. Instead of seeing it as a way to lose weight, see it as a way to become friends with your body. The weight will come off easier, you'll have a healthy mind, and you'll be less likely to go back to your old habits.

thank you so much for your advice. thing is, i really don't have a problem with my food intake as i don't really have a big appetite. i've been also consistently leaning on healthier food choices. but i did bake a lot the past year so that's probably the culprit. add the fact that i have zero exercise. i'm all set to lose this unwanted bulging belly and so far i'm feeling really good with my progress. i've never thought of my body as an enemy. God has blessed me with this body and i intend to take good care of it for the rest of my life. really appreciate all your thoughts! :)

I just moved from rural upstate New York to New York City! This city is always awake, and we walk pretty much everywhere. So while I've done my best to convince myself that I'm not overweight... the walking has been killer. Our apartment building also has a great fitness facility so last Thursday I vowed to exercise for an hour every day and only eat when hungry, that being said, it is so hard not to feel disappointed when you step on the scale every day and see a .2 pound change. So i guess my problem is sticking with it even when I don't see immediate results. This exercise has truly been the best thing for me. I cannot wait to fit into my size 4 dresses and size 5 jeans again without exploding out of them! That will be an amazing feeling! I have about 20 pounds to lose until then, best of luck to us all!

i love walking! believe it or not, i took "walking for fitness" as one of my physical ed subjects back in college and it's so much fun. sadly, it's no longer possible now since i live here in dubai. it's scorching hot 99% of the time. but i have been hitting the gym regularly and bike away. good luck to both of us! :)

Good luck, Aizzing! My dad decided he wanted to lose a lot of weight a few years ago (50+ pounds) and he used to have soda every day. Said it was a habit from school when he was growing up. But kicking that habit helped him a LOT.

And the veggie thing, of course. I love veggies... hopefully you will too!!

As for drinking more water. GET A CAMELBAK!!! I put down the money for one about 6 months ago and now I drink about 1800 mL of water a day no problem. My body is running smoother too. I prefer the one with the charcoal filter (lasts for 3 months). Most come with a bite valve for drinking which is a HUGE reason why I drink so much water. Please invest in a Camelbak. They are worth every penny.

We’re almost at the last chapter of Ramadan this year, and while I would definitely miss the shorter office timing and much more relaxe...

HER FAVORITE MOMENTS

DISCLOSURE

All content and opinions stated on this blog are entirely my own and not influenced by any of my affiliations (employer, organizations etc). I would only post about brands that I am honestly passionate about and mesh well with both the aesthetics and content of Icing & Write.